LAFOX, Ill., Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (NASDAQ:RELL) today reported financial results for its second quarter ended December 2, 2017. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 per share quarterly cash dividend.

Second Quarter Results

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 increased 15.5% to $39.1 million compared to net sales of $33.8 million in the prior year’s second quarter. Sales increased $4.8 million for PMT and $1.3 million for Canvys. PMT sales were higher in power grid tubes, power conversion and RF and microwave components as well as specialty products sold into the semiconductor wafer fabrication capital equipment market. Sales increased for Canvys due to higher overall demand in Europe. Sales decreased for Richardson Healthcare by $0.8 million due to the sale of the PACS Display business at the end of fiscal 2017, partially offset by higher certified pre-owned CT Tube sales.

Gross margin increased to $13.4 million, or 34.2% of net sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2018, compared to $11.0 million, or 32.4% of net sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Margin increased as a percent of net sales primarily due to a favorable product mix. Richardson Healthcare margin as a percent of net sales also increased due to the sale of its lower margin PACS Display business.

Operating expenses were $12.6 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to $13.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The second quarter of fiscal 2017 included $1.3 million in severance expense from a reduction in force. After excluding the severance expense from the second quarter of fiscal 2017, operating expenses increased due to higher research and development expenses for Richardson Healthcare and additional expenses relating to the increase in net sales. Operating expenses as a percent of sales decreased to 32.2% in the current quarter from 35.7% last year when excluding the severance expense from the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

As a result, the company reported $0.8 million of operating income for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to an operating loss of $2.4 million in the prior year’s second quarter. Other expense for the second quarter of fiscal 2018, primarily a foreign exchange loss, was $0.1 million, compared to other income of $0.2 million, primarily a foreign exchange gain, for the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

The income tax provision of $0.5 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2018 reflected a provision for foreign income taxes based on the current quarter’s geographical distribution of income, additional tax due from an audit in Germany and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss. The tax provision of $0.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 included a provision for foreign income taxes and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss.

Income from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was $0.2 million, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2017. In addition, during the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company received an income tax refund from the State of Illinois, inclusive of interest and net of professional fees, of $1.5 million. This refund was a result of the conclusion of the Illinois amended return related to the sale of the RF, Wireless and Power Division (“RFPD”) in 2011 and was therefore, classified as income from discontinued operations.

As a result, net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was $1.7 million compared to a net loss of $2.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY – SIX MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 2, 2017

Net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2018 were $76.1 million, an increase of 13.2%, compared to net sales of $67.2 million during the first six months of fiscal 2017. Sales increased by $8.6 million for PMT and $2.4 million for Canvys. These increases were partially offset by a $2.1 million decrease for Richardson Healthcare, which was due to the divestiture of the PACS Display business at the end of fiscal 2017.

Gross margin increased to $25.5 million during the first six months of fiscal 2018, compared to $21.2 million during the first six months of fiscal 2017. In addition, as a percentage of net sales, gross margin increased to 33.5% of net sales during the first six months of fiscal 2018, compared to 31.6% of net sales during the first six months of fiscal 2017, mostly as a result of an improved product mix.

Operating expenses decreased to $24.9 million for the first six months of fiscal 2018, compared to $25.7 million for the first six months of fiscal 2017. The decrease was due to the $1.3 million in severance expense associated with the reduction in work force during the second quarter of fiscal 2017, partially offset by higher research and development expenses for Richardson Healthcare.

Operating income during the first six months of fiscal 2018 was $0.8 million, compared to an operating loss of $4.5 million during the first six months of fiscal 2017.

Other expense for the first six months of fiscal 2018, including foreign exchange, was $0.1 million, compared to other expense of $0.1 million for the first six months of fiscal 2017.

The income tax provision of $0.6 million during the first six months of fiscal 2018 reflected a provision for foreign income taxes, additional tax due from an audit in Germany and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss. The tax provision of $0.8 million in the first six months of fiscal 2017 included a provision for foreign income taxes, additional tax due from an audit in France and no U.S. tax benefit due to the valuation allowance recorded against the net operating loss.

Income from continuing operations for the first six months of fiscal 2018 was $0.1 million, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $5.4 million in the first six months of 2017. In addition, during the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company received an income tax refund from the State of Illinois, inclusive of interest and net of professional fees, of $1.5 million. This refund was a result of the conclusion of the Illinois amended return related to the sale of RFPD in 2011 and was therefore, classified as income from discontinued operations.

Net income for the first six months of fiscal 2018 was $1.6 million, compared to a net loss of $5.4 million during the first six months of fiscal 2017.

CASH DIVIDEND

The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 quarterly dividend per share to holders of common stock and a $0.054 cash dividend per share to holders of Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on February 22, 2018, to common stockholders of record on February 9, 2018.

Cash and investments at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2018 were $59.3 million compared to $61.4 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and $62.8 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2017. During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock under the existing share repurchase authorization. Since the sale of RFPD, the Company has spent $65.6 million on share repurchases, nearly $20.0 million on acquisitions, approximately $21.8 million on dividends and $8.4 million on purchases of Richardson Healthcare equipment. Currently, there are 10.8 million outstanding shares of common stock and 2.1 million outstanding shares of Class B common stock.OUTLOOK

“I am pleased to report an operating profit of $0.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 as compared to a $2.4 million operating loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2017,” said Edward J. Richardson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President. “Our investments in our growth initiatives are beginning to pay off complemented by consistently strong power grid tube sales. PMT and Canvys experienced double-digit sales growth with improved gross margin over the prior year’s second quarter. In addition, after adjusting for the loss of sales from the divestiture of the PACS Display business, sales in Richardson Healthcare also increased. We made great strides in our new CT Tube development and backlog remains strong for both PMT and Canvys,” Mr. Richardson concluded.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

On Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. CST, Edward J. Richardson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert J. Ben, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s second quarter results for fiscal year 2018. A question and answer session will be included as part of the call’s agenda. To listen to the call, please dial (888) 419-5570 and enter passcode 65219458 approximately five minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available beginning at 12:00 a.m. CST on January 12, 2018, for seven days. The telephone numbers for the replay are (USA) (888) 286-8010 and (International) (617) 801-6888; passcode 64586305.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes certain “forward-looking” statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release regarding the Company’s business which are not historical facts represent “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on July 31, 2017. The Company assumes no responsibility to update the “forward-looking” statements in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ABOUT RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD.

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is a leading global provider of engineered solutions, power grid and microwave tubes and related consumables; power conversion and RF and microwave components; flat panel detector solutions and replacement parts for diagnostic imaging equipment; and customized display solutions. We serve customers in the alternative energy, healthcare, aviation, broadcast, communications, industrial, marine, medical, military, scientific and semiconductor markets. The Company’s strategy is to provide specialized technical expertise and “engineered solutions” based on our core engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The Company provides solutions and adds value through design-in support, systems integration, prototype design and manufacturing, testing, logistics, and aftermarket technical service and repair through its global infrastructure. More information is available at www.rell.com.

Richardson Electronics common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol RELL.

Richardson Electronics, Ltd.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Unaudited

Audited

December 2, 2017

May 27, 2017

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

54,453

$

55,327

Accounts receivable, less allowance of $373 and $398, respectively

21,016

20,782

Inventories, net

48,059

42,749

Prepaid expenses and other assets

3,729

3,070

Investments - current

4,136

6,429

Total current assets

131,393

128,357

Non-current assets:

Property, plant and equipment, net

17,275

15,813

Goodwill

6,332

6,332

Intangible assets, net

3,231

3,441

Non-current deferred income taxes

1,069

1,102

Investments - non-current

686

2,419

Total non-current assets

28,593

29,107

Total assets

$

159,986

$

157,464

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

15,224

$

15,933

Accrued liabilities

8,645

8,311

Total current liabilities

23,869

24,244

Non-current liabilities:

Non-current deferred income tax liabilities

158

158

Other non-current liabilities

903

735

Total non-current liabilities

1,061

893

Total liabilities

24,930

25,137

Stockholders’ equity

Common stock, $0.05 par value; issued and outstanding 10,790 shares at December 2, 2017 and 10,712 shares at May 27, 2017

535

535

Class B common stock, convertible, $0.05 par value; issued and outstanding 2,137 shares at December 2, 2017 and at May 27, 2017

107

107

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, no shares issued

—

—

Additional paid-in-capital

59,745

59,436

Common stock in treasury, at cost, no shares at December 2, 2017 and at May 27, 2017